There was a time not all that long ago when the Football League was unfairly tarnished with a long-ball brush, with competition away from the glare of the Premier League spotlight considered to be more about aggression than possession.

That is certainly not the case anymore, with clubs from the top tier downwards placing greater emphasis on ball retention and being pleasing on the eye.

Of course, it is not always possible to play pretty football and there will be times in which the dogs of war have to be unleashed and a fighting spirit shown.

It is, however, refreshing to see that clubs in the Championship are seeking to pass their way to the Promised Land, rather than battle their way there.

It is also worth noting that those to have been promoted out of League One in recent years are also sticking to their footballing philosophies, with there no change in approach after taking a step up in class.

In fact, the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth are positively Barcelona-esque, with the tiki-taka approach perfected at the Nou Camp being embraced at Molineux and Dean Court.

Total Pass

Accurate Pass

Appearances

Wolves

8,636

7,066

17

Derby

8,454

6,915

17

Bournemouth

8,330

6,657

17

Norwich

7,966

6,329

17

Brighton

7,863

6,350

17

Fulham

7,570

5,920

17

Leeds

7,359

5,749

17

Middlesbrough

7,315

5,584

17

Brentford

7,052

5,396

17

Wigan

7,052

5,368

17

Watford

6,928

5,299

17

Blackburn

6,897

5,170

17

Millwall

6,850

4,973

17

Reading

6,815

4,965

17

Charlton

6,765

4,994

17

Bolton

6,619

4,818

17

Ipswich

6,553

4,424

17

Forest

6,451

4,823

17

Sheff Wed

6,238

4,506

17

Huddersfield

6,218

4,509

17

Rotherham

6,165

4,265

17

Cardiff

6,085

4,434

17

Blackpool

6,024

4,470

17

Birmingham

5,806

3,928

17

Derby County, under the watchful eye of former England manager Steve McClaren, have made their way to the top of Championship table by outplaying opponents, while Fulham and Leeds United have refused to waver in their belief that the ball should be kept on the deck despite enduring some testing times this season.

At the opposite end of the scale, Cardiff City’s relegation out of the Premier League has hit them hard and it is now up to Russell Slade to get them moving in the right direction again and working to the successful blueprint he drew up at Leyton Orient.

Gary Rowett and Lee Clark also have tough tasks on their hands after inheriting the reins at struggling outfits, with Birmingham City and Blackpool occupying the bottom two spots in the division and in the footballing table above.